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  1. #1
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    Utah immigration bill seeks middle ground in debate

    Utah immigration bill seeks middle ground in debate

    By Alan Gomez, USA TODAYPosted 4m ago |

    In state legislatures around the country, most of the immigration bills being debated aim to crack down on illegal immigration. Legislators are trying to cut off illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits, deny their U.S.-born children citizenship and force them out of states by granting local police the power to enforce immigration laws.

    But one bill filed in Utah is being viewed as the possible middle ground that has proven so elusive in a hyper-charged immigration discussion.

    The Utah bill, known as the Pilot Accountability Permit Program, would grant work permits to illegal immigrants so they could legally work in the state, but would require them to undergo criminal background checks, pay taxes, take English classes and would force them to leave the state if they lose their jobs.

    Under the legislation, the state would report illegal immigrants who commit a major crime to the federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement or ICE.

    "It is very rare," Eric Rodriguez, vice president of public policy for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic civil rights group, said of the bill. "It just feels more meaningful than what we've seen in other states."

    The bill was co-sponsored by state Sen. Luz Robles, a Democrat, and state Rep. Jeremy Peterson, a Republican, and has the backing of a conservative think tank in Utah.

    Paul Mero, director of the conservative Sutherland Institute, said he became disheartened by the dozens of bills flowing through the Utah Capitol and other state legislatures that focused on trying to catch and deport illegal immigrants. He said the immigration system needs to be fixed by Congress, but meanwhile, Utah should focus on constructive ways to deal with the 110,000 illegal immigrants living in the state.

    "You really have two paths," Mero said. "The one path leads to rounding them up or starving them out. Or, you can actually go down this other path of rationality and practicality."

    Even though it has bipartisan support in Utah, it is receiving bipartisan criticism from outside.

    Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, which supports a path for some illegal immigrants to become citizens, was pleased by the general direction of the bill, but worried that some of the enforcement portions of the bill may go too far.

    Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates lower levels of immigration, said the core of the bill is unconstitutional because states cannot regulate immigration numbers.

    He called the bill "de facto amnesty" and considered it a political gesture since it has little chance of surviving legal challenges.

    Robles acknowledged that her proposal delves into uncharted legal territory, and said the state would need a waiver from the federal government to implement it.

    Even so, she is confident the legislation would survive constitutional challenges since it doesn't alter the immigration status of illegal immigrants and her state has been providing driver's licenses for illegal immigrants for years.

    Robles said legislators from six states have inquired about the bill. And no matter the outcome of her bill, she said she hopes it changes the tone of the national immigration debate.

    "People are realizing that the extremes are just not going to work," Robles said. "You're seeing a shift on how people are talking about this issue."

    http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/201 ... 6_ST_N.htm
    NO AMNESTY

    Don't reward the criminal actions of millions of illegal aliens by giving them citizenship.


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  2. #2
    Senior Member ReformUSA2012's Avatar
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    HUH? How is rewarding illegals with a legal work permit middle ground? Wheres the middle ground side for those who say they want illegals out? Wheres our carrot to make this middle ground?

    Utter nonsense.

  3. #3
    Administrator Jean's Avatar
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    Utah Wants To Give Illegal Immigrants Work Permits

    Last Updated: Wed, 02/16/2011 - 4:57pm

    In a bizarre effort to resolve Utah’s immigration crisis, state lawmakers are considering measures to grant illegal aliens work permits as well as English and civics classes.

    The move comes as states and municipalities nationwide craft legislation to actually reduce their illegal immigrant populations, not accommodate them. Incredibly, some of the Utah measures have bipartisan support and a good chance of becoming law by the end of the legislative session.

    Illegal alien advocates are calling it a rare but meaningful middle ground in the scorching immigration debate, which has transformed into a hostile clash between local governments and the feds. In one corner is a federal government that fails miserably to fulfill its duty of securing the Mexican border and enforcing immigration laws. In the other are perpetually frustrated local governments taking matters into their own hands.

    Usually they introduce bills to rid their communities of illegal immigrants, which is why Utah stands out. Introduced by a Republican state congressman, one of the laws allows illegal immigrants already living in the state to register for a guest worker permit. Family members of permit holders could also stay under the proposal. A House committee approved the guest worker bill this week which means it will continue debate on the House floor.

    A second bill, known as the Pilot Accountability Permit Program, would grant the state’s estimated 110,000 illegal immigrants a sort of de facto amnesty. Drafted by a Democratic state senator and a Republican state congressman, the measure also gives illegal aliens work permits if they pass criminal background checks, pay taxes and enroll in English and civics classes.

    Passing it will increase public safety and address voter frustration in a “fair and rigorous way,â€
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